Vending-machine.



N PATENTED JUNE 2,1903. D. JAMES & L. D. RUSHER.

VENDING MACHINE.

I APPLIOATION FILED MAR. 25, 1902. no MODEL. j a SHEETS-SHEET 1.

: ncn'ms PETERS co. Pum'mumq, wmuucron. u. 4.

No. 729,938. PATENTED JUNE'Z', 1903.

D. JAMES & L. 1). RUSHEB. N

I VENDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 25, 1902.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

N0 MODEL. a, :66 i J JJ 1 'IIIIIIIIIIIIII A PATENTED JUNE 2, 1903. 1). JAMES & L. D. RUS'HER. A

VENDING MACHINE. APP IOATION FILED MAR. 25. 1902'.

s SHEBTSSHEBT 3;

N0 MODEL.

,M HK HPE Patented June 2, 196a.

FFICE.

ATE T DAVID JA'MESJAND nonnnzofp. Bosnian,on.o,o1 n Yv1LLE, K NsAs; SAID RUSl-IER ASSIGNOR- TO ARTHUR LEV-AN, OF COFFEYVILLE, KANSAS.

VENDING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent no. 729,938, dated June 2, 1903.

Application filedMarch 25,1902 Serial No. 99,946. (No model.)

To aZZ wltom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, DAVID JAMES and Lonnnzo D. RUsnER, citizens of the'Unite'd States, residing at Coffeyville, in the county of Montgomery and State of Kansas, have invented a new and useful Vending-Machine, of which the followingis a specification.

This invention relates'to anovel vendingmachine of that classwhichare designed to be connected to suitable operating mechanism through theinstrumentality of a coin de-" posited by the vendee, to whom is'thereafter delivered by the machine the article vendedas, for instance, a cigaror the like. w :5 One object of the invention is to produce a simple and effective vending machine equipped with operatingmechanism exposed upon the exterior of the machine for manipulation by the vendee after he has connected the operating mechanism with the vending apparatus by depositing a suitable coin.

A further object of the invention is to so organize the machine thator-iginal packages, such as boxes of cigars, may-be deposited therein and thecigarsdelivered one at a time through an opening in the machine-casing until all of the cigars have been delivered by successive manipulations of the operating mechanism. e

A still further object'of the invention is to so organize the individual machine that a number of machines may be operatively related to operating mechanism common to all of them,'but arranged to actuate such only of the machines as may during anygiven manipulation of a common actuator or handle be connected thereto for operation Subordinate to these objects are mad y otherssuch as the simplifying of the structure, the securing of positive action of the various movingparts, the complete discharge of the vended article through an opening in the easing, &c.all as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and succinctly defined in the appended claims.

In said drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the complete machine with the easing broken away to show interior parts. Fig. 2'is a top plan view of the machine with the casing omitted. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of of the handle-arresting device.

.manner in which the hinged ejector-plate I the inclosed machine with one side of the easingremoved. Fig. 4' is a longitudinal sectional View of the machine. Fig. 5 is a rear elevation thereof, showing the parts broken away. Fig. (i is a sectional view on the line 6 6 of Fig. 2. Fig. 7is a detail sectional view Fig. 8 is a detail -sectional elevation "illustrating the raises the hinged cover of the casing and ejects the cigar or other object from the carrier and delivers it. Fig. 9 is a detail sectional view showing the connection between the feed-slide and one of-its' operating-pit- '65 men. Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic View showing a number of machines inclosed in a casing-and arranged for actuation by a single operating device. A

Likenumerals of reference are employed to designate correspondingpartsthroughout the views.

The vending-machinegis in practice inclosed within a suitable casing 1, provided, preferably adjacent to one end of its top wall,

with a delivery o'peningfi and wifha coinslot 3. The d'elivery-openingis normally protected by. a suitable closure-as, for instance, a hinged flap orcover 4;-'as shown in Fig. 1.

In its structural organization the machine includes a frame comprising a pair of vertical side plates 5 and 6, secured in any suitable manner to the base of the casing and spaced apart by horizontal partitions f7 and 8, and a vertical partition 9 extending from a point above the partition 8 to the front end of the partition 7 and located a short distance in rearof the front wall 10 of the machine-frame. The upper horizontal partition 7 constitutes the bottom wall of a receptacle 11, designed to receive a box 12, in which the objects to be vended are packed. In the'pr'esent instance thereceptacle 11 contains a cigar-box having its front end removed and its cover thrownback. In orderto accommodate the machine for the reception of boxes of diiferent sizes, the oppositeside walls of the receptacle 11 are provided with yielding boxretainers or gripper-plates 13 and 14:, (see Fig. 2,) formed with vertical shoulders 15, disposed at the front edge of the partition 7 and constituting abutments for the front loo edges of the box sides. The gripper-plates 13 and 14 extend forward into close proximity to the front wall of the frame and are extended downwardly between the partition 9 and the front wall 10 to a point adjacent to the lower edges thereof. (See Figs; 2 and 4.) As these plates are adjusted laterally in accordance with the width of the box retained, they not only retain the box, but serve as automatically-adjustable side walls of a chute 16, through which the objects to be vended are dropped, in a manner to be described, from the receptacle 11 to a feed-slide 17, designed to convey the objects one at a time to a supporting-ledge 18, from whence they are delivered to the carrier 19, as will be hereinafter explained. The feed-slide is provided with an automatically-adjustable pocket 20, designed to receive cigars or other objects, said pocket being defined between the front wall 21 of the rear slide-section 22 and the rear wall 23 of the front slide-section 24, as shown in Fig. 4. The sections of the feed-slide 17 are slidably supported upon the partition 8, and the side arms 25 of the front section 24 extend along opposite sides of the rear section 22 and are provided with slots 26, through which extends a transverse shaft 27, connected to the slide-section 22 and projecting through elongated slots 28 in the opposite side walls 5 and (3 of the frame. (See Figs. 1, 4, 6, and 9.)

The slots 26 in the side arms 25 of the front slide-section are of a length sufficient to provide any desired adjustment of the pocket 20 of the slide, since it willbe evident that when the rear slide-section 22 is moved forward by the pitmen 28, connected to the outer ends of the shaft 27, the size of the pocket will be decreased by the forward movement of the wall 21 until the shaft 27 comes into contact with the front end of the slots 26, at which time both sections of the slide will move forward to feed the object from the bottom of the chute 16 to the supporting-ledge 18 at the front of the partition S.- If, however, the size of the object should be too great to permit the minimum contraction of the pocket, it will be evident that before the shaft 27 reaches the front end of the slot 26 the rear slide-section will contact with the object in the pocket and through the latter will communicate motion to the front slide-section.

At the lower edge of the ledge 18 is disposed a movable wall 29, constituting part of a holder 30, pivoted to the partition 8, as indicated at 31, and provided with a counterweight 32, which normallyretains the wall 29 in position to prevent the escape of the object from the ledge 18 after it has been delivered thereto by the advance of the feedslide 17. At the front side of the holder 30 are formed a pair of trip-arms 33, located at opposite sides of the frame and disposed in the path of the carrier19 for depression thereby, as will presently appear.

As the mechanism for feeding objects from the receptacle to the chute 16 is intimately associated with and operated by the feedslide 17, we shall now proceed to describe said mechanism and will then explain the construction of the carrier and the manner in which it is operated to carry or convey the cigars or other objects to the delivery-opening 2 in the top wall of the casing. At the top of the front wall 10 of the frame is rigidly secured a bracket 34, (see Figs. 1, 3, and 4,) to which is pivoted the front end of a rack-bar 35, having its rear extremity secured in the loop 36 of a spring-frame 37, the rear end of which normally rests, as shown in Fig. 1, upon the rear end wall of the box 12, The side bars 38 of this frame extend in parallel relation lengthwise of the machineframe, and their front ends are formed with spring loops or coils 39, located above the vertically-disposed extremities 40, which are retained in suitable brackets 41, secured to the front wall 10. (See Fig. 1.) This springframe serves several purposes. Besides constituting a support for the rear end of the rack-bar it insures the retention of the cigars or other objects within the receptacle and constitutes a guide-frame for what we shall term a followenplate 42. (See Figs. 1, 2, and 4.) This plate is disposed vertically within the receptacle behind the cigars or other objects therein and is pendent from a bearing-sleeve 43, movable upon the rackbar 35 and provided with a spring-detent 44, which engages the teeth of the rack-bar to prevent backward movement of the followerplate. Just below the sleeve 43 the plate 42 is provided with an opening through which extends a toothed reciprocatory feed-bar 45, pivoted at its front end to a feed-lever 46, located beyond the frame and fulcrumed, as indicated at 47, upon the upper end of the bracket 34. The lower end of the feed-lever is connected to the front end of the feed-slide 17 in any suitable manner--as, for instance, by having its lower end passed through an eye 48, fixed t0 the slide. It will now be noted that whenever the feed-slide 17 is moved forward it will cause the feed-lever 46 to be swung and the feed-bar to be moved endwise for the purpose of advancing the follower-plate 42. As the plate advances the detent 44 will engage the next succeeding tooth of the rack-bar 35 to prevent forward movement of the plate, and as the feed-slide 17 is retracted the feed-bar 45 will. be moved rearward independently of the plate to bring a succeeding tooth into engagement with the latter. Obviously as this operation is repeated the follower-plate will be advanced step by step to insure the delivery of the objects from the receptacle to the chute 1.6,from whence said objects are fed by the feed-slide to the ledge 18 preparatory to their delivery to the carrier.

It sometimes happens that when cigars or other objects which are packed closely in the box are fed forward a number of such objects will be deposited in the chute 1G and will not I as shown.

been found that they sometimes become soclosely packed that the prompt operation of the machine is interfered with. To obviate this difficulty, we provide at the front side of the chute 16 a vertically-movable loosening-plate 49, having a deflected upper portion 49 extended over the chute, as indicated in Fig. 4, and provided with forwardly-extending lugs 50, passed through the vertical slots in the wall 10 (see Fig. 1) and pivoted to the upperends of a pair of links 51, which by preference constitute the side legs of a Wire frame of inverted- U shape hingedly con-- nected to the front end of the feed-slide 17, Thus the forward movement of the slide will not only effect the advance of the follower-plate 42, but will cause the downward movement of the loosening-plate 49 to insure the loosening of the cigars or other objects, and thereby prevent the packing of the latter within the chute. Guard-plates 52 are also provided upon the front wall 10, adjacent to the upper end of the latter, for the purpose of retaining the cigars or other objects fed from the receptacle within the range of action of the loosening-plate, the aggroupment of these several adjunctivesdeviccs in the manner stated serving to secure a positive feed of the objects and to insure their delivery to thepocket 20 of the feed-slide.

The carrier (indicated as a whole by the numeral 19) is intended, as already premised, to convey the objects one at a time from the machine to the delivery-opening 2, through which they are discharged upon the top of the casing, and thereby delivered to the vendee. The carrier comprises a support 53, extending transverselyacross the machine in front thereof and pivotally secured, as indicated at 54, to the front ends of a pair of swinging arms 55, located at opposite sides of the machine-frame and having pivotal con-- nection at their rear ends with the side plates 5 and 6 adjacent to the upper rear corners.

thereof. As the support 53 is designed to support the cigar or other object during the movements of the carrier, it is essential that it should be maintained at all times in horizontal position. This end is accomplished by forming the support with pendent arms 56, to which are pivoted, as indicated at 57, the front. ends of the swinging rods 58, having pivotal connection at their rear ends with the perfect alinement during the swinging of the carrier, and the support53will consequentlyremain at all time in horizontal position. As shown in'Figs. 4 and 8, the front edge of the support 53 is bent up somewhatand is hinged, as at 59, to the front edge of what we I shall term an ejector-plate 60, preferably 7 of transversely-convex contour and provided with one or more trip-arms 61, which extend above and in front of the hinged connection 59.- When the carrier comes to rest in the position shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings, the

support 53 striking against the trip-arms -33 of the holder '30 depresses the wall 29 below the plane of the-ledge 1S and permits the cigar or other object to drop from said ledge into the ejector, which normally rests upon the support,-as shown. The carrier is then swung upwardly in a manner to be described, presenting the cigar at the delivery-opening 2 below the hinged cover 4, protecting the same. As the carrier reaches-this position the trip-arm 61 of the ejector isbrought into contact with the top wall of the casing 1 at the front side of the opening 2, and'further upward movement of the carrier will therefore cause the ejector to be tilted as it passes through the opening 2. tilting of the ejector'will be to liftthe hinged closure or cover 4 and to eject the cigar or other object upon the top of the casing in ad- Vance ofthe delivery-opening, as shown in Fig. 8. The carrier then descends, and the ejector and cover drop back to their normal positions in an obvious manner.

We now come to consider the construction and operation of the operating mechanismby means of which the carrier is made to deliver one cigar while another is being advanced to the ledge 18 prior to the return of the carrier to its normal position. It is quite evident that many forms of operating mechanism might beemployed; but in the present embodiment of the invention we utilize a two-part shaft, comprising a shaft proper (indicated by the numeral 62) and a surrounding sleeve ,63. The shaft 62 is disposed horizontally in rear of the machineand The effect of this has hearings in suitable supporting-brackets 64. The sleeve 63, which is loose upon the shaft, is provided adjacent to its opposite ends with laterally extending arms 65, to which are pivoted the rear ends of the pitmen 28 for operating the feed-slide, and the lower ends of a pair of links 66, having their upper ends pivoted to the carrier-arms 55 in advance of their rear ends. fore, rotary movement of the sleeve in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 4 will effect the I elevation of the carrier and the advance of the feed-slide 17, various other movable parts of the machine being simultaneouslyoperated by reason of their connection with the (see Fig.5) and having itsbeak GSarranged Obviously, thereto pass through a slot 69 in one wall of the sleeve and to engage a recess 70in the shaft. When the detent is in its engaging position, as shown in Fig. 5, the sleeve 63 and shaft 62 are locked together, and the rotation of the shaft will effect a similar movement of the sleeve to operate the machine. At one end of the shaft is provided, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, a crank-arm 71, to the wrist of which is connected the rear end of a draw-rod 72, passed through a bearing-bracket 73 adjacent to the front end of the frame and provided with a hooked front extremity 74, engaging a spiral cam 75. The retraction of the draw-rod is effected by a retractin gsprin g 76, encircling the rod and having its ends bearing against the bearing-bracket 73 and against a suitable projection upon the rod 72. The cam 75 is carried by a cam-shaft 77, provided with suitable bearings, as shown, and extended to the exterior of the casing 1 at the front end thereof, where it is provided with a suitable operating handle or crank 78.

While the machine as thus far described is possessed of definite utility without the addition of other elements, we prefer to provide means for effecting the control of the vending-machine by means of a coin, so that a cigar or other object will not be delivered unless a coin of the proper value is deposited in the coin-opening 3 in the casing. When the machine is intended to be coin-controlled, the detent 67 is provided upon its end opposite the beak 68 with a counterweight 79 and at its end opposite the counterweight with an upwardly-extending arm 80, provided with a coin-receiver 81. Normally the counterweight 79 retains the detent in a position in which the beak 68 will not extend into the recess 70 in the shaft 62, and the operation of the handle or crank 78 will not, therefore, operate the machine to deliver a cigar. If, however, a coin of the proper value is deposited in the receiver 81, the Weight 79 will be overcome and the detent will be moved to connect the shaft and sleeve, the coin thus acting as a weight, through the iustru mentalityof which the machine is coupled to its operating mechanism by the coupling of the members of the two-part shaft constituted by the shaft and sleeve 62 and 63, respectively, as heretofore stated.

For the purpose of leading the coin from the opening 3 in the casing to the receiver we provide a coin chute or race 82, (see Fig. 3,) which terminates immediately above the receiver. It will be evident that when the coin is deposited in the opening 3 it will pass down the race 82 and drop into the coin-receiver 81. The weight of the coin will move the detent to connect the shaft and sleeve, and as the draw-rod 72 is advanced by the rotation of the cam 75 the shaft and sleeve will rotate. Now as the detent is carried by the sleeve and in turn supports the coin-receiver it is evident that as the machine is operated the receiver will move away from the lower end of the race 82 to the dotted position, (indicated in Fig. 3 of the drawings,) in which position the coin will drop from the receiver, and the parts will be moved back to their normalpositions when the draw-rod reaches the end of the spiral cam 75.

It will now appear that if a coinis dropped into the race 82 before the receiver has returned to its normal posit-ion said coin will drop into the bottom of the casing and will not serve to permit a succeeding operation of the machine. To avoid this contingency,we provide a swinging guard 83, pivoted at its upper end, as indicated at 84, to a bracket 81L, upstanding from the lower end of the race 82. This guard is arranged to gravitate into position to close the lower end of the race whenever the coin-receiver is moved away and is moved to its inoperative position, as shown in full lines in Fig.8, by a guardo'perating finger 85, extending from the sleeve 63 immediately in advance of the coin-receiver 81. Thus the guard will normally be held away from the end of the race by the finger; but when the receiver moves rearwardly during the operation of the machine the finger 85, also moving with the sleeve,will permit the guard 83 to swing back to guard the lower end of the race, and as the receiver returns the guard will be displaced by the finger 85 to permit the coin to drop into the receiver in an obvious manner.

In Fig. 10 we have shown on a very much reduced scale and in diagram the arrangement of a number of machines in a single casing and all disposed for actuation by means of a single handle. The machines (t, b, and 0, arranged side by side, have their several detent-carrying sleeves mounted on a single shaft 62, and the machines cl, 0, and fare likewise provided with a single shaft 62". These two shafts 62 and 62 are both provided with cranks 71, connected by a link 71", and to one of these cranks is connected the rear end of a draw-rod 72, operated by a handle in a manner which has already been explained. It is obvious that as each of these several machines is provided with its individual coinoperated mechanism such of the machines as are connected to their shafts will be operated simultaneously, the others refusing to operate until a coin has been deposited.

Briefly, the operation of our vending-machine is as follows: A box filled with cigars or the like, having its cover and one end removed, is placed within the receptacle 11, with the follower-plate 42 behind the cigars. A coin deposited in the coin-opening 3 in the casing will gravitate down the race 82 and drop into the coin-receiver 81. The weight of the coin will move the detent (57 to eifect an engagement between the sleeve 63 and the shaft 62. The machine being thus connected to its operating mechanism, the vendee by turning the crank 78 will rotate the cam 75,

causing draw-rod 72 to be drawn forward and be suddenly retracted by the spring 76.

the shaft 62 to be rotated. This rotation of the shaft will efiect simultaneously the elevation of the carrier and the advance of the feed-slide 17 through the medium of the pitmen 28 and the links 66. As the carrier is elevated a cigar resting upon the ejector-plate will be conveyed to the delivery-opening 2. As the opening is reached the ejector-plate will be tripped by contacting with the upper wall of the casing, and the cigar will be ejected from the carrier and deposited upon the casing in advance of the opening. While this conveyance and delivery of a cigar is'taking place the advance of the feed-slide 17 will cause a cigar retained in the pocket 20 to be moved forward and dropped upon the inclined ledge 18, where it is retained by coming in contact with the wall 29 of the cigar-holder 30. At the same time the feed-lever 46 will be swung to advance the follower-plate 42 through the medium of the reciprocatory feed-bar 45, and the loosening-plate 49 will move downwardly to insure the, dropping of one or more cigars to the bottom of the chute It} for reception within the pocket 20 when the feed-slide shall have been retracted. Just as the cigar is delivered the hooked end of the draw-rod '72 will have come to the end of the cam and will The carrier will now drop back to'its initial position, and as it comes to rest will strike the trip-arms 33 of the holder 30, depressing the latter and causing the wall 29 to be Withdrawn from in front of the cigar resting upon the ledge 18. The cigar released-by the tripping of the holder will drop upon the ejector-plate ofthe carrier to be carried up and delivered through the opening 2 at the next succeeding operation of the machine. During the downward movement of the carrier the feed-slide 17, having delivered its cigar to the ledge 18, will be retracted to its normal position to receive another cigar in its pocket, and the feedbar 45 will be retracted to bring another of its teeth in engagement with the followerplate 42, rearward movement of which is prevented, as stated, by the detent 44. During this retractile movement of the carrier, feedslide, and feed-bar the loosening-plate 49 will also be retracted to the upper end of its movement.

It will be observed that when the machine is operated the coin-receiver 81 will be tilted, and as the cigar is being delivered the coin will-roll out of the receiver and into the bottom of the casing, the guard 83 replacing the receiver at the'discharge end of the race 82. Therefore as the several movable parts of the machine are moved back to their initial positions the finger 85 will displace the guard 83, and the empty receiver 81 will move back for the reception of another coin.

The machine constructed as thus far described is found to operate effectively in the manner stated; but it is possible that the machine might be caused to operate twice in succession by rotating the handle rapidly, be-

cause the draw-rod would begin its second forward movement before the detentwould have time to move to its released position after arriving at a point where the Weight 79 would become effective-that is to say, the beak 68 of the detent would be clamped by the relative movements of the sleeve and shaft and would not be released if a second operation of the draw-rod followed quickly upon the first. Obviously this would result in the delivery of two cigars for the price of one, and this effect is avoided by what may be termed a handle-arresting device 86, in the form of a pivoted catch having a hooked end 87 disposed in the path of a projection 88 on the handle 78. Thus as the handle completes its revolution it is arrested, and while the arresting device is being manipulated to release the handle the detent is'given time to move to its disengaged position, and the machine is thus thrown out of connection with its operatin g mechanism and cannot again be con-v nected therewith until the proper coin has been deposited.

It is thoughtv that from the foregoing the construction and operation of our vending machine will be clearly apparent; but we do not desire to be understood as limiting ourselves to the structural details defined, as it is obvious that many changes, modifications, and variations of the illustrated structure might be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention. For instance,

other forms of coin-operated mechanism for connecting the machine with itsoperating devices might be employed, or the coin-operated mechanism might be entirely eliminated and the detent operated by hand or other means. We wish, therefore, to be distinctly understood as reserving the right to employ the machine with or without the coin.- controlled feature or with a plurality of machines coupled in series or-in tandem and with such other modifications and variations of the mechanism shown as maybe properly embraced within the scope of the protection prayed.

What we claim is- 1. In a vending-machine, the combination with a casing having a delivery-opening in its top wall, of a receptacle within the casing,

a carrier movable vertically to the deliveryopening, means for transferring objects from the receptacle to the carrier, and means "for operating the carrier.

' 2. In a vending-machine, the combination with a casing having a delivery-opening, and a receptacle for the objects to be vended, of a swinging carrier including a support movable to the delivery-opening, to deliver the objects one at a time, means for swinging the carrier and means for transferring an object tothe carrier from the receptacle. y

3. In a vending-machine, the combination with a casing having a delivery-opening, and

a receptacle for the objects to be vended, of

a carrier movable to the delivery-opening,

means for transferring'an object to the carrier from the receptacle, and means for ejecting the objects from the carrier.

4. In a vending-machine, the combination with a casing having a delivery-opening, and a receptacle for the objects to be vended, of a carrier movable to said opening, means for causing an object to be transferred to the carrier from the receptacle, and an ejector operated by the carrier for ejecting the object from the carrier.

5. In a vending-machine, the combination with a casing having a d'elivery-opening, and a receptacle for the objects to be vended, of a carrier movable to the opening, means for causing the transfer of an object from the receptacle to the carrier, and an ejector tnovable with the carrier and operated thereby to eject an Object from the carrier through the opening.

6. In a vending-machine, the combination with a casing having a delivery-opening, and a receptacle for the objects to be vended, of

I a carrier movable to the delivery-opening,

means for causing the transfer of an object from the receptacle to the carrier, an ejector movable with the carrier and having a triparm, and means forarresting the trip-arm to efifect the movement of the ejector.

7. In a vending-machine, the combination with a casing having a delivery-opening, and a receptacle for the objects to be vended, of a carrier movable to the opening to convey the objects one at a time, means for causing the transfer of the objects from the recepta' cle to the carrier, a hinged ejector mounted on the carrier to eject the objects therefrom, and means for automatically operating the ejector as the carrier reaches the deliveryopening.

8. In a vending-machine, the combination with a casing having a delivery-opening, and a receptacle for the objects to be vended, of a carrier movable to the opening to convey the objects one at a time, means for transferring an object from the receptacle to the carrier, and a hinged ejector-plate mounted on the carrier and provided with a trip-arn1 arranged to contact with the wall of the easing to swing the ejector-plate through the delivery-opening and thereby eject an object from the carrier.

9. In a vending-machine, the combination with a casing having a delivery-opening, and a receptacle for the objects to be vended, of a swinging carrier movable to the deliveryopening, an ejector-plate mounted on the carrier and disposed to swing independently thereof, means for effecting the automatic transfer of an object from the receptacle to the carrier, and means for swinging the ejector-plate to eject an object as the carrier reaches the delivery-opening in the casing.

10. In a vending-machine, the combination with a casing having a delivery-opening, and a receptacle for the objects to be vended, of a vertically-swinging carrier, including a support for the object, means for transferring an object from the receptacle to said support, and means for maintaining the horizontal position of the support during the swinging of the carrier.

11. In a vending-machine, the cotnbination with a casing having a delivery-opening, and a receptacle for the objects to be vended, of a vertically-s\vinging carrier, comprising a support for the object and retaining-bars pivotally connected to the support to retain the latter in a horizontal position during the swinging of the carrier, and means for transferring an object from the receptacle to the carrier. 1

12. In a vending-machine, the combination with a casing having a delivery-opening, and a receptacle for the objects to be vendcd, of a carrier, comprising swinging arms, a support for the object, pivotally connected to the carrier-arms and having depending portions, and swinging retaining-bars pivotally connected to the depending portions of the support and designed to retain said support in a horizontal position during the swinging ofthe carrier and means for causing the transfer of anobject to the support from the receptacle.

13. In a vending-machine, the combination with a casing having adelivery-opening, and a receptacle for the objects to be vended, of a carrier comprising swinging carrier-arms, a support for the object, carried by said arms, means for retaining the support in horizontal position during the swinging of the arms, and a hinged ejector-plate mounted on the sup port and means for transferring an object from the receptacle to the support.

14. In a vending-machine, the combination with a casing having a delivery-opening, and a receptacle for the objects to be vended, of a carrier arranged to convey the objects one at a time to the delivery opening, means for transferring an object from the receptacle to the carrier, a feeder for moving the objects one at a time from the receptacle for delivery to the carrier and constituting an element of the transferring means, and means for operating the feeder and carrier.

15. In a vending-machine, the combination with acasing having a delivery-opening, and a receptacle for the objects to be vended, of a holder, a swinging carrier designed to deliver the objects one at a time to the delivery-opening, a reciprocatory feeder arranged to move the objects from the receptacle to the holder for delivery to the carrier, and means for operating the carrier and feeder.

16. In a vending-machine, the combination with a casing having a delivery-opening, and a receptacle for the objects to be vended, of a movable carrier disposed to convey the objects one at a time to the delivery-opening, a movable holder arranged to deliver the objects to the carrier, meansfor feeding the ob jects from the receptacle to the holder, means operated by the carrier for moving the holder to effect the delivery of auobject to the carrier, and means for operating the carrier.

17. In a vending-machine, the combination with a casing having a delivery-opening, and

means for operating the holder through the movement of the carrier to deliver an object.

a receptacle for the objects to be vended, of a.

movable carrier, a movable holder disposed to receive an object from the receptacle, and

to said carrier. V

18. In a vending-machine, the combination witha casing having a delivery-opening, and

a receptacle for the objects to be vended, of a movable carrier designed to deliver the ohjects one at a time to the opening, a movable holder arranged to receive the objects from the receptacle and to deliver them to the carrier, and means for causing the carrier to. trip the holder as said carrier reaches the limit of its retractile movement.

19. In a vending-machine, the combination with a casing having a delivery-opening, and

a receptacle for the objects to be vended, of a movable carrier designed to deliver the objects one at a time to the delivery-opening, a movable holder disposed intermediate of the receptacle and carrier, and trip-arms extending into the path of the carrier from the holder, whereby the carrier will effect the tripping of the holder and the consequent delivery of an object to the carrier.'

20. In a vending-machine, the combination with a casing having a delivery-opening, and a receptacle for the objects to be vended, of

a carrier designed to deliver the objects one at a time to the delivery-opening, a movable holder for delivering the objects to the carrier, a feeder for delivering the objects to the holder, and means for automatically moving the holder to deliver an object to the carrier as the latter reaches the limit of its retractile movement.

21. In a vending-machine, the combination with a casing having a delivery-opening, and a receptacle for the objects to be vended, of a carrier arranged to deliver the objects one at atime to the delivery-opening, a movable holder arranged to be tripped by the carrier as the latter reaches the limit of its retractile movement, means for returning the holder to .its normal position when the carrier moves toward the delivery-opening, a feeder for a receptacle for the objects to be vended, of

a movable carrier designed to convey the objects one at a time tothe delivery-opening, a pivoted counter-weighted holder disposed to be tripped by the carrier to deliver an objectthereto, and a reciprocatory feed-slide arranged to deliver the objects one at a time to the holder.

23. In avendiug-machine, the combination with a casing havinga delivery-opening, and

a carrier designed to convey the objects one at a time to the delivery-opening, a holder intermediate of the receptacle and carrier, a feed-slide for feeding the objects to the holder, a chute leading to the feed-slide, a loosening device located in the chute, and means for operating said device to insure the feeding of the objects through the chute.

24. In avending-machine,the combination with a casing having a delivery-opening, and a receptacle for the objects to be vended, of a carrier arranged to deliver the objects one at a time to the delivery-opening, a holder intermediate of the receptacle and carrier, a feeder for feeding the objects to the holder, a chute leading to the feeder, a loosening-plate movable Within the chute, and means for operatively connecting the loosening-plate with the feeder.

25. In avending-machine, the combination with a casing having a delivery-opening, and a receptacle for the objects to be vended, of a carrier arranged to deliver the objects one at a time to the delivery-opening, a holder intermediate of the receptacle and carrier, a reciprocatory feed-slide for moving the objects to the holder, a follower-plate movable within the receptacle, and means for operatively connecting the feed-slide and follower-- plate.

26. In a vending-machine, the combination with a casing having a delivery-opening, and a receptacle for the objects to he vended, of a carrier designed to deliver the objects one at a time to the delivery-opening, a holder intermediate of the receptacle and carrier, a reciprocatory feed-slide for feeding the objects to the holder, a follower-plate movable 'Within the receptacle to insure the delivery of the objects to the feed-slide, and means for effecting the step-by-step advance of the follower-plate through the movement ofthe feed-slide.

27. In a vending-machine, the combination with a casing having a delivery-opening, and a receptacle for the objects to be vended, of a carrier designed to deliver the objects one at'a time to the delix'ery-opening, a holder intermediate of the receptacle andcarrier, a-

reciprocatory feed-slide for feeding the objects to the holder, a follower-plate movable within the receptacle to insure the delivery of the objects to the feed-slide, a toothed feed-bar engagingthe follower-plate to effect the step-by-step advance thereof, and means Operatively connecting the feed-bar with the feed-slide.

28. In avending machine, the combination with a casing having a delivery-opening, and

a receptacle for the objects to be vended, ofa carrier designed to deliver the objects one at a time to the delivery-opening, a holder intermediate of the receptacle and carrier, a

reciprocatory feed-slide for'feeding the objects to the holder, a follower-plate movable within the receptacle for insuring the de livery of the objects to the feed-slide, a rackbar, a detent carried by the follower-plate and engaging the teeth of the rack-bar, a feed-lever opcratively connected to the feedslide, and a toothed feed-bar connected to the feed-lever and provided With teeth disposed to engage the follower-platc to effect the stepby-stcp advance thereof.

29. In a vending-machine, the combination with a casing having a delivery-opening, and a receptacle for the objects to be vended, of a carrier arranged to deliver the objects one at a time to the delivery-opening, a holder intermediate of the receptacle and carrier, at reciprocatory feed-slide for feeding the objects to the holder, a chute leading from the receptacle to the feed-slide, aloosening-plate within the chute, a follower-plate Within the receptacle, means for operativelyconnecting the loosening-plate and follower-plate with the feed-slide, and means for operating the feed-slide and carrier.

30. In a vending-machine, the combination With a casing having a delivery-opening, and areceptacle for the objects to he vended, of a carrier designed to deliver the objects one at a time to the delivervopening, a tilting holder disposed to deliver the objects to the carrier, a reciprocatory feed-slide for delivering the objects to the holder, a chute leading from the receptacle to the feed-slide, a follower-plate in the receptacle, means for operating the follower-plate through the movement of the feed-slide, and means for tilting the holder through the movement of the car rier.

31. In a vendingmachine, the combination with acasing having a delivery-opening, and a receptacle for the objects to be vended, of a carrier arranged to deliver the objects one at a time to the delivery-opening, aholder intermediate of the receptacle and carrier and a feed-slide designed to feed the objects to the holder, said feed-slide comprising relatively movable sections.

In a vending-machine, the combination with a casing having a delivery-opening, and a receptacle for the objects to he vended, of a carrier arranged to deliver the objects one at a time to the deliver opening, a holder intermediate of the receptacle and carrier, a feed-slide designed to feed the objects to the holder, said feed-slide comprising relatively movable sections defining an intermediate pocket, means for moving one of said sections, and means for connecting the section ceases thus moved, after predetermined movement thereof, with the other section.

33. In a vending-machine, the combination Witha casing having a delivery-opening, and a receptacle for the objects IO be vended, of a carrier arranged to deliver the objects one at a time to the delivery-opening, a ho1derintermediate of the receptacle and carrier, :1. feed-slide designed to feed the objects to the holder, said feed-slide comprising a front section having rearwardly-cxten(led slotted side Walls, a rear section disposed between the side walls of the front section, a shaft connected to the rear section and extended through the slots in the side Walls of the front secio'n, and operating-pitmon connected to said shaft for operating the feed-slide.

In a vending-machine, the combination with a casing having a delivery-opening, of a carrier designed to deliver the objects one at a time to the delivery-opening, and operating mechanism comprising a shaft operatively connected to the carrier, a draw-rod for operating said shaft and means for operating the draw-rod.

In a vending-machine, the combination with a casing having a delivery-opening, and a receptacle for the objects to be vended, of a carrier designed to deliver the objects one at a time to the delivery-opening, and operating mechanism comprising a shaft operatively connected to the carrier, a draw-rod for operating said shaft, a cam disposed to operate the draw-rod and a handle for mov ing the cam.

36. In a vending-machine, the combination 7 with a casing having a delivery-opening, and a receptacle for the objects to be vended, of a carrier for delivering the objects one at a time to the delivery-opening, a feed-slide for feeding the objects toward the carrier, a shaft operatively connected to the carrier and feedslide, respectively, a spring-retracted drawrod for operating the shaft, a cam engaging the draw-rod to move the same in one direction, and a handle for operating the cam.

In testimony that We claim the foregoing as our own We have hereto affixed our signatures in the presence of two Witnesses.

DAVID JAMES. LORENZO D. RUSHER.

Witnesses for David James:

WM. MoOULLoon, J. P. CASEY. \Vitnesses for Lorenzo D. Rnsher:

CHARLES VVADLEY, J. G. HIATT. 

